The Truth of the Matter

By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

Business Non-Profit

What's The Truth of the Matter about?

A weekly analysis of the complex policy issues driving the news.

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The Truth of the Matter episodes:

05.16.2024
Face Off: US-China
Former New York Times Beijing bureau chief Jane Perlez joins the show to discuss her new Harvard podcast and the latest tensions in the U.S.-China relationship.
05.09.2024
Israel’s Troubles
CSIS's Jon B. Alterman joins the podcast to discuss the complex set of options that Israel and the United States are facing to secure peace in the Middle East.
04.29.2024
David Sanger’s “New Cold Wars”
The New York Times’ David Sanger joins the podcast to discuss his best-selling new book, “New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West.”
04.19.2024
Iran Emerges From The Shadows
CSIS’s Eliot Cohen joins the podcast to discuss Iran’s missile attack on Israel and its wider geopolitical implications.
04.05.2024
Japan’s Official Visit and Trilateral Leaders’ Summit
CSIS’ Chris Johnstone joins the podcast to discuss next week’s official visit to the United States by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as well as the trilateral leaders’ summit between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines.
04.02.2024
Russia’s New Space Weapon
CSIS’ Kari Bingen and Heather Williams join the podcast to discuss Russia’s new space-based anti-satellite weapon, its violation of the Outer Space Treaty and what steps the U.S. can take to mitigate the risks.
03.26.2024
Government Use of Deepfakes
CSIS' Dan Byman joins the podcast to discuss his new report which examines several scenarios in which democratic government might consider before using deepfakes to advance their foreign policy objectives. Read full report at this link
03.22.2024
The Government Clock is Ti(c)kTok-ing
In this episode of the Truth of the Matter, we feature a conversation from CSIS podcast, Smart Women, Smart Power. Host Kathleen McInnis spoke with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) about her whirlwind past couple of weeks. The pair discussed her recent...
03.19.2024
China Outpacing U.S. Defense Base
CSIS’ Seth Jones joins the podcast to discuss his new report which explains how China’s defense industrial base is operating on a wartime footing, while the U.S. defense industrial base is largely operating on a peacetime footing. Overall, the U.S....
03.15.2024
Rise of Domestic Terrorism
CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen joins the podcast to discuss how domestic terrorism is on the rise and what the United States can do to counter it.
03.14.2024
James Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman on “2054”
Admiral James Stavridis, a retired four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy and former commander of NATO and SOUTHCOM, and award-winning author Elliot Ackerman, contributor at The Atlantic and veteran of the U.S. Marines, join the podcast to discuss their new novel, “2054,”...
03.11.2024
The Relevant Question: Pollster Mark Penn on Israel-Hamas
Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll chairman Mark Penn joins the podcast to discuss the results of his February poll on U.S. attitudes toward Israel and Hamas.
03.08.2024
"Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War” on Netflix
Award-winning filmmaker Brian Knappenberger joins the podcast to discuss his new docuseries Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War, which debuts on Netflix on March 12, and how Cold War history is reflected in the current conflict in Ukraine.
03.07.2024
Russia’s Food War
For the past two years, CSIS’ Global Food and Water Security Program directed by Caitlin Welsh has analyzed the impacts of Russia’s war in Ukraine on global food security and on Ukraine’s agriculture sector and has shed light onto the...
03.01.2024
Ukraine: A Real War
On the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, CSIS’ Eliot Cohen joins the podcast to discuss how the conflict has become a “real war,” and what the consequences are for the United States and the West if Ukraine doesn’t...
02.28.2024
The State of the Global Semiconductor Competition
On this special episode, we are joined by Chris Miller, author of Chip War: the Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology, and Professor of International History at Tufts University. We discuss Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo's CHIPS Act announcement...
02.14.2024
World’s Coolest Dictator
CSIS’s Ryan Berg joins the podcast to discuss the reelection of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, the Central American leader who calls himself “the world’s coolest dictator.”
02.09.2024
U.S. Targets Baghdad
CSIS’ Norman Roule joins the podcast to discuss the recent U.S. strike in Baghdad and what U.S. policy is seeking to achieve in the Middle East in combating Iranian proxies.
02.06.2024
U.S. Strikes Back
CSIS’ Seth Jones joins the podcast to discuss U.S. strikes on targets in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. In addition, Dr. Jones discusses his recent trip to Israel and meetings with senior officials there.
01.26.2024
LNG Terminal Pause
CSIS’ Joseph Majkut and Ben Cahill join the podcast to discuss the Biden Administration’s decision to pause the permitting process for new liquified natural gas export facilities in order to analyze their impact on climate change, the economy and national...
01.26.2024
AI 2023 Year in Review
In this episode, Andrew sits down with Gregory C. Allen, director of the Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technologies and discuss 2023 AI biggest developments, newest policies, and our responses to it all. This episode is a crossover with...
01.18.2024
The Houthis and U.S. Options
CSIS’ Eliot Cohen joins the podcast to discuss how the United States should respond to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, plus, Dr. Cohen describes what he saw and experienced during his recent visit to Israel.
01.09.2024
Wider War in Mideast
Former national intelligence manager for Iran at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, CIA senior official and current CSIS senior adviser Norman Roule joins the podcast to discuss the war in Gaza against Hamas and how Iran and...
01.05.2024
Grateful Dead’s Influence on Modern Media and Culture
Jonathan Shank, CEO of Terrapin Station Entertainment joins the podcast to discuss live music, immersive entertainment and the impact of the Grateful Dead on social media and the future of rock and roll.
12.21.2023
Israel’s Hard Choices
CSIS’ Daniel Byman, who just returned from Israel where he met with senior military officials, joins the podcast to discuss how the war in Gaza is progressing, why the Israeli campaign has been so destructive and what success looks like...
12.18.2023
Hamas’ Hostages
CSIS’ Jon Alterman and Washington Post columnist Jason Rezaian, who serve as executive directors of the CSIS Commission on Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention, join the podcast to discuss the ongoing hostage situation in Gaza, lessons from the Israel-Hamas hostage...
12.15.2023
Ukraine: Will America Come Through?
CSIS’ Max Bergmann joins the podcast to discuss U.S. funding for Ukraine and its implications
12.14.2023
WSJ’s Dion Nissenbaum Reporting on Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah
Dion Nissenbaum is an award-winning reporter covering U.S. policy in the Middle East and regional security for The Wall Street Journal. He joins the podcast to discuss the challenges Israel faces to the south with Hamas and to the north with...
11.28.2023
Brian Stelter on “Network of Lies”
Former CNN Reliable Sources anchor Brian Stelter, now a special correspondent for Vanity Fair, joins the podcast to talk about media polarization, how Israel’s war against Hamas is being covered, and his new book, “Network of Lies: The Epic Saga...
11.21.2023
Gaza Hospitals
CSIS’s J. Stephen Morrison joins the podcast to discuss the situation surrounding Gaza’s hospitals as Israel fights against Hamas.
11.17.2023
A View From Israel
Israeli Brigadier General Asssaf Orion (res), who served the IDF for over 30 years and is now on reserve duty joins the podcast to discuss the events of October 7 and the Israeli response. During his career in the Israel Defense...
11.08.2023
De-Risking and Export Controls
CSIS’s Emily Benson joins the podcast to discuss her new Project on Trade and Technology and its first report, “Establishing a New Multilateral Export Regime.”
11.02.2023
War in Gaza and The Hollow Crown
CSIS’s Eliot Cohen joins the podcast for a discussion of the ground war in Gaza and his new book “The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule and Fall.”
11.01.2023
U.S.-Australia Relationship
CSIS’s Charles Edel joins the podcast to discuss the recent State Visit of Australian Prime Minister Albanese to Washington and its implications for Indo-Pacific security.
10.27.2023
Israel, Hamas & Egypt’s Role
CSIS’s Jon Alterman joins the podcast to discuss the ongoing battle between Israel and Hamas, and the role Egypt could play.
10.23.2023
Israel’s Intelligence Regroups
CSIS’s Emily Harding joins the podcast to discuss Israel’s tragic intelligence failure and its efforts to regroup against an unseen enemy. Plus, a discussion of Egypt’s role going forward.
10.20.2023
Tell it Like it Is: Aaron Neville
Legendary singer Aaron Neville joins the podcast to discuss his new book “Tell it Like it Is: My Story,” performing with his brothers—The Neville Brothers, duets with Linda Ronstadt and how he overcame addiction and hardship to ultimately achieve platinum...
10.19.2023
Dimensions of War in Gaza
CSIS’s Seth Jones joins the podcast to discuss Israel’s military objectives and what’s coming next.
10.18.2023
Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Avi Mayer on Hospital Blast
Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Avi Mayer joins the podcast to discuss the catastrophic blast at the Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, his tour of the massacre at Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel, mood of the Israeli people and government, challenges that...
10.13.2023
Aftermath of Hamas Attack
CSIS’s Jon Alterman joins the podcast to discuss the brutal aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel and its implications in the short and medium term.
10.11.2023
Hamas's Attack on Israel
CSIS's Daniel Byman joins the podcast to discuss the last few days of war between Hamas and Israel and what might come next in the conflict.
10.06.2023
Ukraine Funding’s Real Battlefield Implications
CSIS’s Max Bergmann joins the podcast to discuss congressional funding for Ukraine and what it means for Ukraine’s war against Russia.
09.26.2023
Mexico’s Historic Election
Former CEO of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI) and host of the CSIS podcast “Mexico Matters” joins the podcast to discuss Mexico’s historic 2024 presidential election featuring two female candidates and the issues at stake for Mexico and...
09.20.2023
Iran Hostage Release: Honey and Vinegar
CSIS’s Jon Alterman joins the podcast to discuss the deal the U.S. made to retrieve 5 American prisoners from Iran, plus approaches the U.S. may take to deal with Tehran going forward.
09.15.2023
CSIS Visits Taiwan
CSIS’s Seth Jones joins the podcast to discuss his recent visit to Taiwan, meetings with President Tsai Ing-wen and senior officials of the Taiwan government and discussions surrounding Taiwan’s security.
09.14.2023
Kim Jong-Putin Summit
CSIS’s Victor Cha joins the podcast to discuss the meeting of the two autocrats in which they vowed greater cooperation on economic and security issues.
09.13.2023
AI and Autonomous-Powered U.S. Military
CSIS’s Gregory C. Allen joins the podcast to discuss the Department of Defense’s “Urgency to Innovate” and its new initiative called “Replicator,” a Pentagon drone program designed to compete with China—namely to field thousands of drones across multiple domains in...
09.12.2023
Everyone is Confused About Covid
CSIS’s Dr. J. Stephen Morrison joins the podcast to discuss Covid confusion and why most Americans have no idea what to do if they get Covid, whether they should be vaccinated or not this fall, and what the CDC and...
09.07.2023
Conflict Minerals
CSIS’s Gracelin Baskaran and Joseph Majkut join the podcast to discuss why the U.S. should elevate the role of critical minerals for achieving the energy transition, spurring economic development, and strengthening national security.
08.25.2023
Prigozhin's Demise
CSIS’s Catrina Doxsee joins the podcast to discuss the alleged death of Yevgeny Prigozhin and its impact on the future of the Wagner Group and Russia's foreign policy.

What's The Truth of the Matter about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Truth of the Matter episodes:

Face Off: US-China

Israel’s Troubles

David Sanger’s “New Cold Wars”

Iran Emerges From The Shadows

Japan’s Official Visit and Trilateral Leaders’ Summit

Russia’s New Space Weapon

Government Use of Deepfakes

The Government Clock is Ti(c)kTok-ing

China Outpacing U.S. Defense Base

Rise of Domestic Terrorism

James Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman on “2054”

The Relevant Question: Pollster Mark Penn on Israel-Hamas

"Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War” on Netflix

Russia’s Food War

Ukraine: A Real War

The State of the Global Semiconductor Competition

World’s Coolest Dictator

U.S. Targets Baghdad

U.S. Strikes Back

LNG Terminal Pause

AI 2023 Year in Review

The Houthis and U.S. Options

Wider War in Mideast

Grateful Dead’s Influence on Modern Media and Culture

Israel’s Hard Choices

Hamas’ Hostages

Ukraine: Will America Come Through?

WSJ’s Dion Nissenbaum Reporting on Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah

Brian Stelter on “Network of Lies”

Gaza Hospitals

A View From Israel

De-Risking and Export Controls

War in Gaza and The Hollow Crown

U.S.-Australia Relationship

Israel, Hamas & Egypt’s Role

Israel’s Intelligence Regroups

Tell it Like it Is: Aaron Neville

Dimensions of War in Gaza

Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Avi Mayer on Hospital Blast

Aftermath of Hamas Attack

Hamas's Attack on Israel

Ukraine Funding’s Real Battlefield Implications

Mexico’s Historic Election

Iran Hostage Release: Honey and Vinegar

CSIS Visits Taiwan

Kim Jong-Putin Summit

AI and Autonomous-Powered U.S. Military

Everyone is Confused About Covid

Conflict Minerals

Prigozhin's Demise